Shoreland

Necessity of Shoreland Management

Blue Earth County has 368 miles of rivers, 186 miles of unnamed streams, and 43 lakes. Lakes, rivers, and streams cannot adjust infinitely to changes resulting from housing development, recreation, and other human activities that impact them.

Regulating Use of Shoreland

The Minnesota Legislature has delegated responsibility to local governments, including Blue Earth County, to regulate the subdivision, use and development of shorelands of public waters to preserve our natural resources and water quality. Shoreland includes land located within the following distances from public waters:

1,000 feet from the ordinary high water level of a lake, pond, or flowage; and,

Minnesota’s Shoreland Management Program

Blue Earth County administers Minnesota’s Shoreland Management Program. This program from the Department of Natural Resources provides for the orderly development and protection of Minnesota’s shorelands, including rivers, lakes and streams.

As a part of adhering to the standards of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s Shoreland Management Program, permits may be required for construction activities, intended use, topographical alterations, ice ridge repair, and vegetation removal activities.